Heat diffuser or baffle device



NOV. 15, 1938. w, BARKER 2,136,666

HEAT DIFFUSER OR BAFFLE DEVICE Filed Nov. 8, 1937 I 315 1 L951, 17 if 1 ZZZ 6- I l 4 at 1 4 7 5 Y J 7* i i 2 ]4 v I I J] 6 i l l i 1 l i Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to a heat diffuser or bafile device for stoves and the like.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a heat diffusing, spreading or baffling means for converting a coal range, or a combination coal and gas range, into an oil burning stove.

Another object is to provide a heat diffusing or spreader plate adapted to be positioned in the upper end of the fire box over the range burners whereby the burners may be used for either top cooking or baking.

Another object is the provision of a heat diffusing plate for range burners which increases and causes the heat from the burners to thoroughly circulate around the top, side and. bottom walls of the oven.

A further object is to provide a bafile or heat spreader for range burners which prevents the accumulation or storage of stagnant heat in the fire box or burner compartment.

A further object is the provision of a heat spreader of economical design which is readily adapted for use in oil, gas and combination coal ranges wherein an enlarged relatively flat top cooking surface is provided.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as the specification is considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a vertical cross section through a combination oil and gas range; and

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the diffuser or heat spreader plate, with the cooking hole covers removed.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, numeral I designates generally a combination gas and oil range, although it is to be understood that this type range is shown for purposes of illustration only, as the invention is equally adaptable to other types of combination ranges. The range is of conventional construction comprising rear, bottom and side walls 2, 3 and 44', respectively, a front wall, not shown, and a top 5.

A fire box or burner compartment 6, of usual construction, is arranged at one side of the range and is separated from an oven compartment 1 by an insulated side wall 8. An oil burner 9, is suitably supported on a grate bar or the like ill, in the fire box, and oil is supplied thereto by pipe II, from a source of supply, not shown, in a well known manner.

The oven 1 is positioned beneath a d spac d.

from a top cooking gas burner compartment l2, by flue passage I 3, and is spaced from the side and bottom stove Walls 3 and 4 by flue passages I4 and [5, respectively. Thus the hot gases, emanating from the fire box or oil burner compartment 6, travel across the top of the oven, down one side and across the bottom thereof, whereupon the same pass outwardly through a flue opening l6 in the rear wall 2 of the stove and thence upwardly through a smoke chimney II.

A relatively flat, substantially rectangular metal, heat diffuser or spreader plate 18 is supported in the fire box a suitable distance above the top of the oil burner 9, by means of headed bolts [9 or the like which extend through apertures 20 in the plate adjacent the side flange 2| thereof and fit loosely within enlarged openings 23 in lugs 22, formed on the wall 4' of the compartment 6. The other side 2| of the plate is supported by adjusting screws or the like 24, extending through threaded apertures 25, preferably located adjacent the outer corners of the plate, and which screws are threadedly received in apertures 26 in the upper edge 2'! of the insulated wall 8 extending above the plane of the top Wall of the oven. By virtue of this construction, it will be seen that While the plate I8 is supported on an even plane above the burner 9, the same may be adjusted or tilted upwardly or downwardly in an obvious manner, by turning the screws 24, in an appropriate direction. The plate is formed along its ends 28 and the side 2i with an integral, downwardly extending, slightly flared skirt or flange 29, the bottom edge 30 of which snugly engages the front and rear walls and the side walls 4 of the fire box. The right hand side 3 I, looking at the drawing, is open and extends laterally a relatively short distance beyond the vertical axis of the partition wall 8 and into the upper flue passage l3, for a purpose to be presently described. A recess 32 is formed in the open side edge 3| so that the usual stove frame center post 33 will extend therethrough, although it will be understood that some ranges may not be equipped with such a frame post and therefore it will not be necessary to provide a recess in the plate.

Covers or lids 35 are positioned over circular openings 34 in the baffle plate, in the present instance two openings are shown although the number may vary to conform with the number of burners used so that the plate may be used for baking purposes. When it is desired to use the cooking top 5 of the stove for top cooking, the

covers 35 are removed from the openings 34 thereby permitting the hot gases to pass therethrough and directly heat the cooking top.

By virtue of the diffusing plate being positioned above and spaced from the oil burner 9, the products of combustion rising therefrom will impinge against the whole area of the underside of the plate which results in the gases being pushed or deflected laterally through the open side 3! of the plate and into flue passage l3. When the gases flow into the upper end of the top flue passage [3 the extended edge 3| of the plate causes the gases to be forced or pushed downwardly and laterally across the top of the oven. As the gases drop downwardly, due to their con-- tact with the portion 3| of the plate, a draft .or suction is created in the upper end of the flue passage, below the edge 31, which results in a more even and uniform flow of gases from the fire box and therefore a better circulation of the same throughout the fiue passages. This suction or draft also prevents the entrapment and storage of a quantity of the heater gases in the upper end of the fire box, which is objectionable as the same becomes stagnant and of little use in the heating and cooking operations.

It will also be understood that the cooking top member or plate 40, immediately over the diffusing plate, may be removed and the cooking vessel placed directly on the diffusing plate. If such is, the case, the covers 35 will be removed and the vessel placed in an opening 34. As the heated gases come in direct contact with the underside of the plate l8, and are spread over the whole area thereof, it will be noted that the plate is directly and uniformly heated throughout its surface area. This permits of the cooking being completed in a shorter time with more satisfactory results.

It is important that the plate l8 be pivotally and vertically adjustably mounted so that the outlet opening from the fire box to flue 13 can be enlarged or contracted and the plate as a whole elevated or lowered in horizontal plane, according to the type of fuel used. The enlarged openings 23 in which bolts 19 extendare of a size to permit of a slight tilting. movement about the bolts [9 as an axis.

While I have shown a preferred form of my heat diffusing or spreading plate, it is to be understood that certain modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I,

claim is:

1. A range comprising a burner fire box having a burner therein, an oven having one end adjacent said fire box, communicating top, bottom and side passages extending around the top, bottom and one side of said oven, said top passage being in open communication with said fire box,

and a baffle means pivotally mounted above and spaced from said fire box burner and having one side extending into said top passage, whereby the products of combustion from said burner are pushed into said top passage and circulated through said passages and around said oven.

2. A range comprising a burner fire box having a burner therein, an oven having one end adjacent said fire box, communicating top, bottom and side passages extending around the top,

bottom and one side of said oven, said top passage being in open communication with said fire box, and a diffusing means adjustably mounted above said fire box burner, side portions on three sides of said means, one side of said means being open and extending into said top passage, whereby the products of combustion from said burner are deflected into said top passage and circulated through said passages and around said oven.

3. A range comprising a burner fire box having a burner therein, an oven having one end adjacent said fire box, communicating top, bottom and side fiue passages extending around the top, bottom and one side of said oven, said top fiue passage being in open communication with said fire box, and a diffusing plate pivotally and adiustably mounted above and spaced from said fire box burner, downwardly flared side portions on three sides of said plate, the remaining side thereof being open and extending into the upper end of said top flue passage, whereby the products of combustion are deflected into said top flue passage and circulated through said fiue passages and around said oven.

4. A range comprising a fire box having a source of heat therein, said fire box having front, rear and side walls, an oven having one end adjacent said fire box, communicating top, bottom and side passages extending around said oven, said top passage being in open communication with said fire box, and-a baffle plate above said source of heat and the said point of communication and extending into said top passage, the edges of said bailie plate snugly engaging the front and rear walls and side wall of the fire box, whereby the products of combustion from said source of heat are circulated through said passages and around said oven.

5. A range comprising a fire box having a source of heat therein, said fire box having front, rear and side walls, an even having one end adjacent said fire box, communicating top, bottom and side passages extending around said oven, said top passage being in open communication with said fire box, and a substantially rectangular baflie plate above said source of heat and the said point of communication and extending into said top passage, said baffle plate having a flared skirt on three sides thereof, the edges of the skirt of said bafille plate snugly engaging the front and 0 rear walls and side wall of the fire box, whereby the products of combustion from said source of heat are circulated through said passages and around said oven.

6. A range comprising a burner fire box having a burner therein, said fire box having front and rear walls and a side wall, an even having one end adjacent said fire box, communicating top, bottom and side passages extending around said oven, said top passage being in open communication with said fire box, and a baffle means above said fire box burner and above said point of said open communication and extending into said top passage, said baffle means snugly engaging said front and rear and. side walls, whereby the products of combustion from said burner are deflected into said top passage away from the top of the stove and circulated through said passages and around said oven.

JESSE W. BARKER. 

